ACU FOUNDATION

Our Mission: to educate the next generation of conservative leaders by providing them the intellectual tools necessary to learn about the conservative movement, its leaders, its leading organization and especially its principles.

The first element of the ACUF Mission is to answer the basic question: What is conservatism? In the links to the right, ACUF offers features seven fundamental readings from the philosophers, activists and politicians who have most influenced our founding and have most inspired us over the years. We start with a speech by Ronald Reagan when he spoke to us just after becoming president of the United States in 1981 and defined what conservatism meant to him. We continue with various aspects of the conservative program presented by several of the movement’s leading theorists. The idea is to present a short conservative curriculum of a few key articles and books and that are attractive and substantive enough to be a guide for practical civic leadership. A history of ACU and the Foundation and their founding documents are presented to demonstrate its leadership among conservative organizations since its founding in 1964. More information on the pillars of conservatism is available in a self study course, found here.

The ACUF is also known for its publication Conservative Battleline Online, which brought to bear ACUF’s philosophy on current issues. The online magazine was founded in 2003 and ran until spring of 2013.

Since 1971, ACU’s Congressional ratings have become the gold standard in holding every member of Congress accountable for their voting record by scoring some of the most important issues facing our nation. ACU is dedicated to supporting the efforts of courageous conservative leaders fighting for limited government, promoting prosperity and individual freedom, and defending traditional values. As a result, the ACU Ratings of Congress has throughout its 41 editions included a wide variety of issues covering votes on taxes, wasteful government spending, cultural issues, defense and foreign policy.

Standing by voters around the nation, ACU is leading the way to encourage and help the next generation of conservative leaders, beginning at the state level. In 2011, ACU brought its commitment to conservative ideals to the states, by rating members in five legislatures. Last year ACU scored 15 states, as part of its five-year plan to bring ratings to all 50 states — scoring every legislature in every state, every session.

For the Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union Foundation, click here.

Founded in 1964, the American Conservative Union (ACU) is the original conservative organization in the nation. For more than fifty years, ACU has served as an umbrella organization harnessing the collective strength of conservative organizations fighting for Americans who are concerned with liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values, and strong national defense. As America's premier conservative voice, ACU is the leading entity in providing conservative positions on issues to Congress, the Executive Branch, State Legislatures, the media, political candidates, and the public.
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